Cover fastener means for a cargo container



Nov. 18, 1969 R. L. TURPEN 3,478,919

COVER FASTENING MEANS F OR A CARGO CONTAINER Filed Feb. 28. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A9 Russell L. Turpen v I '-I7 W-J 6 Attor gs COVER FASTENING MEANS FOR A CARGO CONTAINER Fild Feb. 28. 1968 R. L. TURPEN Nov. 18, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

FIGS

FIG. 7

FIG. 8

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zifij'ron. Russell LTurpen Attorn s United States Patent 3,478,919 COVER FASTENER MEANS FOR A CARGO CONTAINER Russell L. Turpen, North Richmond, Calif., assignor to Compass Container Company, Inc., Richmond, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 708,983 Int. Cl. B65j 1/02; B65d 45/12; Ef 11/00 US. Cl. 22055 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A box-like container of large capacity for storing cargo and for transporting the same as by ship, rail and truck. The cargo container includes bottom, side and end walls defining a compartment therewithin, and it further includes a cover removably secured to the side and end walls adjacent the upper edges thereof. The cover is rigid and seats upon frame structure provided therefor adjacent the upper edges of the side and end walls, and it is releasably secured to such frame structure by latch mechanism that may include clamping means effective to urge the cover toward tight abutment with the frame structure to sealingly close the container.

This invention relates to container structures of large capacity and, more particularly, to a cover-equipped cargo container of the type used to transport cargo by ship, rail and truck.

Cargo containers of the character being considered are quite large in a dimensional sense and are used to transport cargoes of various type by ship, rail and truck, and they may be transferred between such conveyances while filled with their lading. Such containers are often used to carry bulk materials such as wheat and other grain; and especially with cargoes of this type, it is convenient to load the containers through the top thereof. Evidently, it is necessary for such a container to have an open top if it is to be loaded in this manner and, in the past, the standard techniques for closing an open top after the cargo has been loaded therethrough is to cover the top with canvas or other fabric material or to close it with a specially constructed metal cover comprising a plurality of narrow metal strips hingedly connected to each other along the edges thereof to form accordion folds enabling the cover to selectively be opened and closed.

In the case of the canvas top, it is quite weak and easily damaged or destroyed and it is also prone to leakage so that the contents of the cargo container may be damaged or contaminated by water. In the case of the accordion-folded metal top, it is expensive, structurally complex, and the hinges interconnecting one narrow strip with another are subject to rust and corrosion especially in a salt water environment. Accordingly, such standard closures or covers are unsatisfactory; and in view thereof, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved cover-equipped cargo container that oviates many of the disadvantages characterizing conventional cargo containers and the closures therefor.

Further objects, among others, are to provide a cargo container or the like having a removable cover that is strong, structurally simple, substantially moisture-resistant and effectively forms a seal with the upwardly extending walls of the container when in closing relation therewith, and which container and cover therefor provide releasable latch mechanism that releasably secures the cover in closing relation with the container walls and may include clamping means comprising cooperative components respectively provided by frame structure carried by the upwardly extending walls of the container adjacent the upper edges thereof and by a perimetric frame provided by the cover for progressively urging the same toward tight sealing engagement with the container walls whenever the mechanism is in the latch position thereof.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the discussion thereof proceeds to a consideration of the specific structural embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken perspective view of the upper end portion of an improved cargo container with its cover in position thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, broken longitudinal sectlonal view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged, broken longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2 but with the cover disengaged from the upwardly extending walls of the container and being disposed thereabove;

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged, broken vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a greatly enlarged, vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 5 but showing a modified construction;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URES 5 and 6, but illustrating a still further modification of the invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a broken horizontal sectional view illustrating a portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 7.

Except as concerns the removable cover and structural assemblage incident to the cooperative relation thereof with the upwardly extending side and end walls of the cargo container, it may be completely conventional. Accordingly, it comprises a base or floor structure (not shown) and a plurality of walls extending upwardly therefrom including transversely spaced side walls 10 and 11 and longitudinally spaced end walls 12 and 13. Such upwardly extending walls define a cargo-receiving compartment 14 therewithin, and in the usual case such walls are composite members including rigid metal frame structures and panels secured thereto. Although the panels may be formed of various materials, they are often made of plywood, as illustrated in the drawings. A portion of the end wall 13 may be hingedly supported for opening and closing movements along a vertical edge thereof, and in FIGURE 1 such portion of the end wall is removed and the hinge support therefor is defined along a corner of the container and is denoted 13.

One of the rigid metal frame structures is carried by the upwardly extending walls adjacent the upper ends or edges thereof; and as shown best in FIGURE 5, such frame structure (which is designated in general with the numeral 15) includes a pair of segments 16 and 17, the first of which extends downwardly along the outer surface of the wooden Wall panel 18 and is turned inwardly adjacent the upper edge thereof and is oriented transversely thereat in substantially contiguous relation with the segment 17 to define a seat 19 thereat. The seat 19 projects inwardly to a point beyond the inner surface of the panel 18, and the two segments 16 and 17 then turn upwardly to a generally vertical orientation substantially parallel to the plane of the panel 18. Such vertical portions of the segments 16 and 17 are respectively denoted with the numerals 20 and 21, and they are seen in FIGURE 5 to be spaced apart so as to define an elongated channel 22 therebetween in which a displaceable latch 23 is slidably positioned.

The vertically disposed portion 20 of the segment 16 is turned inwardly at its upper end (as shown at 24) so as to form a top wall for the channel 22 and cooperates with the upper edge of the latch 23 as will be described hereinafter. The segments 16 and 17 of the frame structure 15 are rigidly united as by welding at appropriate locations therealong, and the frame structure is secured to the wall panel 18 by any suitable means such as by conventional fasteners (not shown) often used for this purpose and known in the art as Nelson studs. Referring to FIGURES 3 and in particular, it will be observed that the vertically extending portions 20 and 21 of the frame segments 16 and 17 are provided at longitudinally spaced locations therealong with downwardly extending recesses 25, each of which has a relatively wide mouth 26 at its upper end forming the entrance thereto. It will also be observed that the displaceable latch 23 is similarly provided at longitudinally spaced locations therealong with generally L-shaped slots or openings 27, each of which is generally aligned with a recess 25. Each of the openings 27 has an upper edge 28 that is inclined downwardly toward the closed inner end of the opening to form a cam or wedge surface used to urge the container cover downwardly toward sealing relation with the seat 19, as will be described further hereinafter.

The removable cover is denoted in its entirety with the numeral 29, and it is comprised of a perimetric frame 30 that is rigid and formed of metal and a panel 31 which may be a wooden component such as the plywood element illustrated in FIGURE 5. The perimetric frame 30 is bent into a rectangular box-like element 32 having a bottom wall 33 adapted to be disposed in facing relation with the seat 19. The frame is welded or otherwise secured in the configuration shown, and it terminates in an inwardly projecting flange 34 that is horizontally disposed and forms a platform receiving the panel 31 thereon which is fixedly secured thereto by suitable fastener members (not shown) such as the aforementioned Nelson studs.

spaced locations therealong are a plurality of pins 37 fixedly related to the brace and frame segment. The pins 37 are respectively alignable with the recesses 25 in the frame structure 15, and the pins are received within such recesses as the cover is moved downwardly into the closed position thereof shown in FIGURE 2. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the pins 37 (and recesses 25) are spaced apart at about 12 inch intervals.

When within the recesses 25, the pins 37 are cooperative with the openings 27 in the latch 23 to secure the cover 29 in the closed position thereof. More particularly in this respect, the elongated latch 23 is longitudinally displaceable along the channel 23 between the release position thereof shown in FIGURE 3 and the latch position illustrated in FIGURE 2. In its latch position, the latch member 23 is displaced toward the right (as viewed in FIGURE 3) so that the pins 37 located within the recesses 25 are confined within the closed ends of the L- shaped openings '27 (as shown in FIGURE 2). Accordingly, the cover 29 cannot be removed at this time from the closed position thereof because it is confined in such Tposition by the cooperative engagement of the openings 27 and pins 37. Longitudinal displacements are enforced upon the latch 23 in the particular structure being considered by rack and gear structure, which includes a rack 38 provided by the latch adjacent one end thereof and 1a gear39 in mesh with the rack and rotatably supported within the channel 22 by the vertically extending portions .20 and 21 of the frame segments 16 and 17. A crank or lever 40 cooperative with the gear 39 (as shown in FIG- URE 4) is used to rotate the gear through the fractional part of a revolution necessary to displace the latch 23 through the limited longitudinal distance between the latch and release positions thereof.

The rack 38 and gear 39 may be positioned at any appropriate location and, for example, they may be lo cated at a corner portion of the frame structure 15. Such frame structure is provided along the end walls 12 and 13 of the container with relatively large hollow beams 41 and 42 which have at their ends aplurality of openings providing access to the interiors thereof. In FIGURE 1 the upper opening in the beam 42 at each end thereof is denoted with the numeral 43. The rack 38 and gear 39 of each latch mechanism are located within the beam 42 adjacent an end thereof, and the crank 40 has access to the associated gear 39 through one of the openings in the beam as, for example, the aforementioned opening 43 along the upper surface thereof. The crank 40 may be disengageable from the gear 39 so that it can be removed to obviate any extension of the handle from the container during shipment and storage. As indicated in FIGURE 4, the transversely disposed portion of the perimetric cover frame 30 along the beam 42 is slotted adjacent the ends of the beam so as to accommodate the extension of the latch 23 and vertically disposed portions 20 and 21 of the frame structure of each latch mechanism entering the beam.

As indicated hereinbefore, the L-shaped openings 27 have inclined upper edges 28, and such edges cooperate with the pins 37 in the cover 29 to force the cover downwardly as the latch 23 is progressively displaced toward the latch position thereof. Since the edges 28 are inclined, they define a cam surface which tends to wedge the cover downwardly such that the abutment wall 33 thereof approaches the seat 19 therefor defined by the frame structure 15. Desirably, a substantially liquid-tight closure is provided by the cover 29 for the compartment 14 and in furtherance thereof a seal 44 may be interposed between the seat 19 and abutment wall 33, as shown especially in FIGURE 5. Thus, as the cover 29 is cammed downwardly by the cooperative engagement of the inclined edge portions '28 of the latch 23 with the pins 37, the abutment wall 33 is squeezed against the seal 44 provided along the seat 19 of the frame structure 15.

The modified structure illustrated in FIGURE 6 is substantially the same as the structure heretofore described (as illustrated especially in FIGURE 5) and, accordingly, the same numerals are used in FIGURE 6 to identify respectively corresponding components except that the suflix a is added thereto for purposes of differentiation. Inspection of FIGURE 6 makes it evident that the frame structure 15a has a somewhat difffferent form in that the frame segment 17a does not extend entirely along the seat portion 19a of the frame segment 16a, but it does define a compartment 22a therewith along the vertically extending portions 20a and 21a. Also, each recess 25a is located only within the vertical portion 20a of the frame segment 16a and the latch 23a has laterally turned top and bottom edges 45 and 46. The latch plate 23 has a plurality of L-shaped openings 27a generally aligned with the recesses 25a, as heretofore explained with reference to the structure illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The cover 29a varies little from the'cover 29 heretofore described, and in particular does not have an inverted L-shaped bracket (the element 35 in FIGURE 5) depending from the flange 34a thereof, and each pin 37a is rigidly carried only by the inner segment 36a of the perimetric frame 30a. In all other respects, the structure shown in FIGURE 6 is substantially the same as the embodiment heretofore described, both structurally and functionally. Accordingly, when the cover 29a is in the closed position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 6, the pins 37a are respectively disposed within the recesses 25a, and longitudinal displacement of the latch 23a confines the cover in its closed position and also urges the abutment wall 33a into tight engagement with the seal 44a extend mg along the seat 19a of the frame structure 15a.

The further modified construction illustrated in FIG- URE 7 is generally similar to the embodiments heretofore described with particular reference to FIGURES 5 and 6, respectively; and accordingly, the same numerals 'are used to designate respectively corresponding components except that the sufiix b is added thereto for purposes of differentiation. Structurally, the main difference in the modification illustrated in FIGURE 7 is that the displaceable latch 23b and frame portions b and 21b are horizontally disposed instead of vertically oriented, as in the prior two embodiments; and correspondingly, the axes of the pins 37b are vertically oriented rather than horizontally as in the embodiments of FIGURES 5 and 6.

Functionally, the latch mechanism shown in FIGURE 7 does not wedge or cam the cover 29b downwardly into abutment with the frame structure provided by the upwardly extending walls of the container. Nevertheless, a relatively good seal is effected by the weight of the cover 29b which causes the undersurface of the flange 34b thereof to bear downwardly against the seal 44b to press it against the upper surface of the frame portion 20b. The seal 44b could be disposed intermediate the abutment wall 33b and seat 1% facing the same, as in the prior embodiments, but in view of the location of the seal 44b as shown in FIGURE 7, the upper surface of the frame portion 20b may be taken to be a seat and the undersurface of the flange 34b is the abutment wall disposed in facing relation therewith.

It may be noted that a wedging action for the latch mechanism to positively urge the cover 29b downwardly against the seal 44b could be included as, for example, by providing complementary configurated wedge-shaped abutments along the upper surface of the latch 23b and undersurface of the frame portion 20b so that upon displacement of the latch toward the latch position thereof it would be progressively forced downwardly by such cam surfaces to bear against the enlarged heads of the pins 37b, wherefore the cover 29b would be positively displaced downwardly. As shown in FIGURE 8, the openings 27b in the latch 23b are in the general shape of a keyhole having an enlarged end portion 47 through which the enlarged head of the associated pin 37b is inserted when the cover 29b is mounted upon the frame structure 15b. Subsequent displacement of the latch 23b (to the left as viewed in FIGURE 8) into the latch position thereof causes the enlarged heads of the pins 37b to be disposed beneath the restricted end portions of the openings 27b.

In all of the embodiments of the cargo container, the latch mechanism is provided along each longitudinal wall of the container but not along the transverse walls thereof so that, in specific terms, the upwardly extending side walls 10 and 11 of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1 are provided with a latch mechanism. Since such mech anisms are identical, it will be appreciated that the foregoing descriptions of one latch mechanism and the asso ciated components for each embodiment of the invention applies equally to the second latch mechanism therefor. In each of the embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, the cover is wedged downwardly by the inclined edges of the L-shaped slots because in one case upward movement of the latch 23 is limited by engagement of the upper edge thereof with the overlying top wall 24 of the channel 22 and, in the other case, by abutment of the laterally turned upper edge 45 of the latch 23a with the overlying top wall 24a of the channel 22a. Evidently, the pin structure 37 will be somewhat stronger than the pin structure 37;: because each of the pins 37 is supported at the opposite ends thereof by the frame segment 36 andbrace 35; while in the case of the pins 37a, they are fixed at one end only to the segment 36a. However, the embodiment of FIGURE 6 more completely isolates the latch mechanism from the interior of the container and from the contents thereof because the portion 21a of the frame structure is substantially imperforate so that the channel 22a has no opening into the compartment of the cargo container.

In each embodiment of the invention, the cover can be completely removed when the latch mechanism is released so that the entire upper end of the cargo container is open to enable the container to be loaded therethrough. Subsequent to such loading, the cover is seated upon the frame structure adjacent the upper end of the container walls and forms a substantially liquid-tight closure therewith. The cover is releasably latched in the closed position thereof to prevent inadvertent displacement and to maintain the sealing relation thereof with the walls of the cargo container. The cover is strong, rigid and has no moving parts so that it is structurally simple and can be expected to last for long periods unless damaged from misuse.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cargo container having upwardly extending walls defining a cargo-receiving compartment, frame structure carried by said walls adjacent the upper ends thereof and providing a seat adapted to support a cover thereon, a removable cover having a perimetric frame receivable upon said seat to close the upper end of said compartment, and releasable latch mechanism having cooperative components respectively provided by said frame structure and perimetric frame for releasably securing said cover in closing relation with the upper end of said compartment.

2. The cargo container of claim 1 in which said latch mechanism includes clamping means urging said cover toward said seat to tightly close said cover.

3. The cargo container of claim 1 in which the cooperative components of said latch mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart pins carried by said perimetric frame and a displaceable latch carried by said frame structure for movement between latch and release positions and being provided with a plurality of openings respectively alignable with said pins for receiving the same therein, and in which said latch mechanism further includes means for selectively displacing said latch between such positions thereof.

4. The cargo container claim 3 in which said perimetric frame along said latch mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart members one of which is a frame segment and the other a brace spaced inwardly therefrom, said pins extending therebetween and being securedv to each.

5. The cargo container of claim 3 in which each of said pins is secured at one end thereof to said perimetric frame and projects therefrom toward the interior of said compartment.

6. The cargo container of claim 3 in which said frame structure along said latch mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart frame segments defining an elongated channel therebetween receiving said latch therein for longitudinal displacements relative thereto, said frame segments being provided with a plurality of recesses respectively alignable with said pins and openings for passing the pins thereinto.

7. The cargo container of claim 6 in which said pins and displaceable latch provide clamping means urging said cover toward said seat to tightly close said cover.

8. The cargo container of claim 7 in which each of said openings is generally L-shaped and has an inclined edge that cams the associated pin downwardly as said latch is displaced toward the latch position thereof.

9. The cargo container of claim' 6 in which each of said openings has the general shape of a keyhole with a large entrance and restricted neck extending therefrom, and in which each of said pins has an enlarged head dimensioned relative to said large entrance so as to pass therethrough when said latch is in the release position thereof.

10. The cargo container of claim 3 in which said pins and displaceable latch provide clamping means urging said cover toward said seat to tightly close said cover.

11. The cargo container of claim 10 in which each of said openings is generally L-shaped and has an inclined edge that cams the associated pin downwardly as said latch is displaced toward the latch position thereof.

12. The cargo container of claim 3 in which a, resilient seal is provided along said seat to provide a liquid-tight relation between said perimetric frame and said frame structure.

13. The cargo container of claim 3 in which releasable latch mechanism is provided along each of the two side walls of said container.

14. The cargo container of claim 3 in which said frame structure along said latch mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart frame segments defining an elongated channel therebetween receiving said latch therein for longitudinal displacements relative thereto, said frame segments being provided with a plurality of recesses respectively alignable with said pins and openings for passing the pins thereinto, and in which said perimetric frame along said latch mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart members one of which is a frame segment and the other a therebetween and being secured to each, and said channel-defining frame segments being receivable between said spaced apart members.

15. The cargo container of claim 14 in which said pins and displaceable latch provide clamping means urging said cover toward said seat to tightly close said cover.

16. The cargo container of claim 15 in which each of said openings is generally L-shaped and has an inclined edge that cams the associated pin downwardly as said latch is displaced toward the latch position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner US Cl. X.R. 

